Ervin Earl Putnam's World War 1 Diary-September 1918

• Sunday September 1st, 1918:
• Nothing doing first fair meal for an age.  Another bunch picked out. Leave tomorrow.
• Monday September 2nd, 1918: Labor Day
• Lecture in the A.M. half holiday.
• Tuesday September 3rd, 1918:
• Cleaned up the streets of Thesis France. some job

• Wednesday September 4th, 1918:
• Lecture and drill. Bunk with Jim Martin
• Thursday September 5th, 1918:
• Same as usual. "Corned Willie" for 3 meals.
• Friday September 6th, 1918:
• Rain, bunk fatigue all day. First rain since arriving in France.  Corned Willie for 3 meals
• Saturday September 7th, 1918:
• Still raining. Army holiday. all the time Corned Willie for 3 meals and we are still alive.
• Sunday September 8th, 1918:
• And still the rain keeps up. Corned Horse again for 3 meals.
• Monday September 9th, 1918:
• Lecture and drill. Rain a little in p.m. The horse again appears.
• Tuesday September 10th, 1918:
• Raining, no reveille.  Water under and over everything.  Nearly up to the top of my tick. Red Horse as usual.
• Wednesday September 11th, 1918:
• Still raining no reveille. Corned mush + syrup for breakfast. No lecture. Red Horse for dinner + Supper.
• Thursday September 12th, 1918:
• Nothing doing
• Friday September 13th, 1918:
• Detail work
• Saturday September 14th, 1918:
• Nothing doing
• Sunday September 15th, 1918:
• Leaft camp at 6 p.m. For Bazoiller Sur Meuse (Voyer)
• Monday September 16th, 1918: Langres, France
• Still traveling, change cars at Langres at 4-41 p.m.

• Tuesday September 17th, 1918:
• From Langres to Bazoilles Sur Meuse. Arrived at 8-30 A.M.

• Wednesday September 18th, 1918:
• Started in at school this a.m. Lecture in L'Aster Engine.

Hospital Center A.P.O. 731, Bazoilles Sur Meuse, France 1918-1919
Bases Num 42, 81, 18, 46

• Thursday September 19th, 1918:
• Continued to-day. No excitement.
• Friday September 20th, 1918:
• Air raid on Neufchateau last night no damage.
• Saturday September 21st, 1918:
• Half Holiday Nothing doing
• Sunday September 22nd, 1918: Neufchateau, France
• Walked to Neufchateau. Best town yet. Two planes collide + burn on the Hill.

• Monday September 23rd, 1918:
• Getting time to move again. Work hurried up so we will be ready.
• Tuesday September 24th, 1918:
• Nothing doing
• Wednesday September 25th, 1918:
• First reveille + exercises since leaving Thesee
• Thursday September 26th, 1918:
• Old bunch from Army Med. school arrive in camp.
• Friday September 27th, 1918:
• Changed barracks. Much better quarters. Signed the payroll.
• Saturday September 28th, 1918:
• Inspection. First mess by ourselves. Have my doubts as to the outcome.
• Sunday September 29th, 1918:
• Left for Souilly at 6-15 A.M. for re-assignment, missed train wait till 5-43 p.m. At Neufchateau. Had a great feed at Red Cross Hut.  Free
• Monday September 30th, 1918: Souilly, France
• Some Trip. Arrived at Souilly 12-30 p.m.

So, Ervin moved across France this month.  The thing that caught my attention the most was his complaints about Corned Willie, Corned Horse, Horse, and Red Horse. I believe all of this is the same dish, that represents a common complaint of World War I soldiers.  Funny thing is I love Corned Beef! Check out this Corned Willie Recipe i found.